Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: RetroJames on June 16, 2004, 11:34:18 pm
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Is it possible to remove adhesive sideart and keep it intact?
Has anyone done this succesfully? I have a Moon Patrol that was converted to a Vigilante. The V sideart is in great shape, I am wondering if there is a trick to doing this. I tried something similar on a different project with a heatgun and cooked the sticker. Is there a better way?
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electronic 'freeze' spray might be able to do it.
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There's almost no chance of getting it all off in one piece. Even if you do manage to it will be stretched out of shape.
-S
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I'm sure it could be done if you had a lot of very sharp exacto blades, even more patience, and about 8-10 hours per side.
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I used to use lighter fluid to remove price stickers from toy packages.
It dissolves the glue and the sticker lifts right off.
There are a few potential problems trying this on a cab.
1) side art is a BIG sticker and would need a LOT of lighter fluid
2) it's not paper like a price sticker so getting the glue dissolved would take a lot of careful squirting along the edge combined with careful peeling.
3) the paint on the side art might be dissolved by the lighter fluid
4) the paint on the cabinet might be dissolved by the lighter fluid
5) if the cab side is porous wood (not laminate) the lighter fluid will soak into the wood creating a fire hazard, at least until it evaporated.
6) you would HAVE to do this outside because of the amount of fumes generated
Has anyone tried this with "goof off" or whatever that stuff is called?
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There is a product called Undu that will temporarily deactivate the adhesive on the decal, and leave it so that you can reapply it later.
I've never tried it on a project that big though.
The problem you would have though is keeping the decal from stretching while you remove it.
You might hit up your local sign shop for an almost empty roll of application tape, put that over the decal, and THEN try using Undu on it.
The other downside is that Undu smells like skunk (literally!).
If you use enough of it to remove those decals, be sure to do it in a REALLY, REALLY well ventilated area.
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The other problem with using Undo is that it costs about $5 for a tiny bottle. For what it would cost to buy enough to remove a decal the size of arcade side art you could have bought new side art.
-S